Types of care

Foster care provides a safe, supportive home to children and young people who cannot live with their families.

It is often used to provide temporary care while parents get help sorting out problems, or to help children or young people through a difficult period in their lives.

Children in foster care range in age from young babies through to adolescents. We need a range of carers to ensure we can match the right type of carer to a child in need.

Ideally, children will return home once the problems that caused them to come into foster care have been resolved and it is clear that their parents are able to look after them safely. Others may stay in care for the long-term.

Kinship care

Kinship care is provided by relatives or members of a child’s social network, when a child cannot live with their parents.

Residential services

Residential services provide more intensive support for children and young people aged up to 18 in a supportive environment which is staffed by qualified carers.

Lead tenant accommodation

Young people who cannot live at home are offered the chance to develop independent living skills under the guidance of an Anglicare Victoria mentor, or ‘lead tenant’. Young people are provided with life skills and educational support.

Crisis accommodation

Our crisis accommodation service assists homeless young people aged 16 – 22 years. We offer intensive support and assistance to young people, stabilise their lives and provide access to education, specialist supports and housing.